Acupuncture for Pain
Acupuncture pain treatments have been used by Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners for centuries. While Americans might be new to the idea of acupuncture for pain management and relief, more and more physicians are recommending it as an effective tool for those suffering from lower back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, arthritis pain, knee pain, and headaches (including migraines), among other issues.
At Life Point Acupuncture Newport Beach, we have vast experience treating and caring for people stricken with various pain issues. We understand the needs of our clients vary widely, so we customize our treatment plans to relieve your worst pain symptoms, reduce inflammation and muscle spasms, and help the body heal and restore itself in a natural way.
Some of our most common acupuncture pain treatments include:
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Back Pain
According to the National Institutes of Health, back pain is one of the most common chronic pain complaints in the U.S. Back pain can be slight—enough to be uncomfortable but not slow you down—or it can be devastating and cause you to miss work. It also doesn’t discriminate by age, as even older children can even be affected by back pain.
At Life Point, we commonly treat two types of back pain: acute back pain and chronic back pain.
What is Acute Back Pain?
Acute back pain is short term, lasting for only a few days. People with acute back pain usually see their symptoms dissipate over a short period of time. Others, however, might seek care because their back pain is resulting in the loss of some function, like not being able to pick up your kids or swing a golf club without the symptoms bothering you.
What is Chronic Back Pain?
Chronic back pain is longer term, lasting for months or longer, even after an injury or some underlying cause has been treated. According to the medical literature, roughly 20% of individuals who are affected by acute lower back pain develop chronic lower back pain with persistent symptoms. Even if pain persists, it does not always mean there is a medically serious underlying cause or one that can be easily identified and treated.
Can Acupuncture Help My Back Pain?
The benefits of treating back pain with acupuncture are well documented. The National Institutes of Health reports that acupuncture “is moderately effective” as a treatment for back pain. Additionally, numerous studies have found that regular acupuncture treatments can help alleviate symptoms of acute and chronic lower back pain. A study published in the Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research found that acupuncture worked better than conventional treatments for persistent back pain lasting more than three months.
The placement of needles at acupuncture points stimulates the central nervous system. This may trigger the release of chemicals into the muscles, spinal cord, and brain. The release of these chemicals can alter the experience of pain as well as provides bodily changes that promote a sense of well-being. A suggested plan for treatment with back pain may include six to 12 acupuncture sessions along with a few maintenance sessions throughout the year. Those experiencing severe pain may consider 2-3 sessions a week for 3-4 weeks.
At Life Point Acupuncture in Newport Beach, we will work with you to achieve the best possible results. Our acupuncturists have years of experience treating patients with back pain symptoms, including sciatica, pinched nerves, arthritis, sacroiliitis, back strain (or sprain), spasms, and a host of other issues.
Headaches
Some people don’t respond well to drugs prescribed to prevent headaches or migraines. Chronic headache pain, migraine headaches, tension headaches and cluster headaches can greatly impair your daily life. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) includes acupuncture as a treatment as a viable treatment option for headaches.
Can Acupuncture Help My Headaches?
Yes. A recent systematic review from the American Migraine Foundation of 22 clinical trials suggests that acupuncture reduces the frequency of headaches and migraine headaches. The frequency of headaches reduced by 50% or more in 59% of individuals receiving acupuncture. The effect was shown to last for more than six months.
An acupuncture treatment for headaches or migraines releases hormones that trigger anti-inflammatory and pain relieving responses. This immune and circulatory system stimulation helps relieve migraines and tension headaches.
For chronic headache sufferers, acupuncture for migraines can be a good complement to other medical treatment. For headache prevention, stress reduction is encouraged, and acupuncture can help alleviate stress. The increase in blood flow to sore and tense muscles due to the placement of needles at acupoints helps reduce tension in the neck and upper back.
At Life Point, we may encourage essential oils, massage exercises and stretches to assist in headache relief. Lavender oil has been studied and found effective and safe for relieving acute headache pain. Treatment for cluster headaches may include sessions two times per week for two weeks, one treatment a week for the next eight weeks, and maintenance sessions every other week. Studies have found a reduction in pain from headaches in both frequency and duration after three months of acupuncture treatment.
Neck Pain or Stiff Neck
Chronic neck pain, neck stiffness, or tension may be caused by nonspecific problems with muscles, tendons and bones of the neck. Medications to reduce pain and inflammation can have negative side effects and physical therapy doesn’t always work. If you have neck tension, stiffness, or pain and other treatments have not worked for you, it may be time to give acupuncture a try.
Does Acupuncture Help with Neck Pain?
Several small studies have suggested acupuncture can help improve neck range of motion and reduce pain. A large German study with more than 14000 participants reported greater pain relief for participants who received acupuncture compared to those who just received usual care.
How Many Acupuncture Treatments Do I Need for Neck Pain Relief?
The recommended duration and frequency of acupuncture treatment for neck pain generally depends on how long you have been living with pain and stiffness as well as the severity of symptoms. A 2015 study in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that when patients had acupuncture for neck pain, 32 percent reported reduced pain after 12 months. Does this mean you need to see an acupuncturist for a year to achieve results? No, but seeing an acupuncturist regularly for maintenance and to treat acute pain can help. At Life Point Acupuncture Newport Beach, we have found that combining acupuncture treatments with cupping and massage yields excellent results for our patients with chronic and persistent neck pain.
Tendonitis
Tendons are thick bands of strong fibrous tissue that link bone to muscle. Tendonitis is the result of inflammation, trauma or tears in tendons. It can occur with repetitive motion from activities such as tennis, golf, typing, and holding your phone. Commonly prone areas include the base of the thumb, elbows, shoulders, hips, knees and the ankles. Rheumatoid arthritis or diabetes may also lead to tendonitis. Tendonitis is twice as common in women than in men, and people over the age of 40 are at higher risk because collagen fibers become weaker and less resistant to stress as we age.
At Life Point, we see a lot of patients with tendonitis, including tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis), golfer’s or baseball elbow (medial epicondylitis), rotator cuff tendonitis, and many others. With a steady treatment plan, we can help manage your tendonitis pain so you can get back to enjoying the activities you love.
How Does Acupuncture Help Tendonitis Pain?
Acupuncture treatment for tendonitis can be combined with electrostimulation, with needles inserted into and around an injured tendon. The stimulation is directly applied to increase collagen repair and reduce inflammation. Once the inflammation is reduced, the pain, swelling and stiffness also reduces.
Moxibustion, another treatment we can offer at Life Point, helps relieve tendonitis pain. By burning small amounts of the herb mugwort, medicinal heat penetrates the skin and enters the body. An immune response is initiated, which helps disperses painful obstructions and regulates blood flow. This results in a decrease in pain and increase in mobility in the joint.
Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is an inflammatory condition of the connective tissue at the bottom of the foot. When you run, the plantar fascia ligament works with the achilles tendon and stabilizes your inner forefoot as you push off the ground. When that ligament becomes strained, it can be incredibly painful. We see a lot of plantar fasciitis among runners and athletes. However, restaurant servers and bartenders, medical professionals, and a host of other people in professions that keep them on their feet all day often get plantar fasciitis as well.
Can Acupuncture Help Plantar Fasciitis Pain?
Yes, according to the medical literature. In a review of several studies on acupuncture and plantar fasciitis, four studies showed a significant reduction in pain during 4–8 weeks of therapy compared to standard therapy.
At Life Point Acupuncture Newport Beach, we can offer alternative treatments to surgery and a treatment plan to decrease the severe pain and stiffness present with plantar fasciitis. The stimulation of the placed acupuncture needles moves the natural energy flow to strengthen the liver, which is in charge of the fascia, tendons, and ligaments. The natural energy flow with the strengthening of the kidneys corresponds to the legs, ankles and feet. We also use acupressure to target areas of the heel and arch can numb the body’s pain response. The adrenaline that is released during treatment has a pain relieving and anti-inflammatory effect as it promotes blood flow to the area and allows for tissue healing.
How Many Acupuncture Treatments Do I Need for Plantar Fasciitis?
We see a lot of runners start to feel improvement for plantar fasciitis and heel pain after 6-8 treatments. We recommend regular maintenance treatments for plantar fasciitis once the pain is no longer acute, but at a minimum, we would recommend seeing the client 6-8 times over the course of a month to see results.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome, commonly referred to as also called median nerve compression, is a condition that causes numbness, tingling or pain in the hand due to a squeezed nerve at the wrist. Those with carpal tunnel may experience a loss of sensation in the fingers and weakness in the hand. Most of our carpal tunnel acupuncture clients suffer from the condition due to repeated motions, like typing on a computer or mobile device. Obesity, pregnancy, hypothyroidism, arthritis, and diabetes can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome.
Can Acupuncture Help Carpal Tunnel?
Acupuncture is an effective treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome, according to this 2017 study in the Journal of Neurology. Acupuncture and electrostimulation treatments for symptomatic carpal tunnel syndrome may improve symptoms and aid nerve repair to improve sensory and motor functions. Other studies have indicated patients experience sustained or continued improvement in functionality, greater grip strength, and lessened pain, numbness, or tingling.
Acupuncture needles are inserted into key points including the wrist, arm, thumb and hands. Nerves in the upper back and legs are also stimulated to release blocked pathways and allow natural energy to flow freely again. The release of endorphins promotes circulation and helps align the nervous system.
At Life Point we may also treat carpal tunnel with massage and acupressure, which is the application of pressure to appropriate points that encourages blood flow to the wrists and hands to reduce inflammation. Treatment can vary depending on the severity of the case and the duration.
Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most frequent causes of disabilities in adults. It affects 80% of people 65 years and older. Any joint in the body can be affected by osteoarthritis, but it is mostly found in the knees, hands, spine and hips. You may experience pain in a joint, a decrease in mobility and a weakness in muscles. Painful joints from osteoarthritis can have a huge impact on the quality of your life.
Unlike osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder. The body interprets the soft lining around the joints as a threat, like a virus, and attacks it. As a result, fluid accumulates in the joints which causes similar symptoms to osteoarthritis: pain, inflammation, swelling, and stiffness.
Does Acupuncture Help with Arthritis Pain?
The American College of Rheumatology/Arthritis Foundation found acupuncture to be one of the treatments recommended for osteoarthritis. Knee arthritis responds well to electrostimulation with acupuncture. This is a good option for reducing pain, inflammation and stiffness, and encouraging an increase in range of motion.
Medical research also suggests that acupuncture may be beneficial in treating people with rheumatoid arthritis. This review of 43 studies conducted between 1974 and 2018 found that “acupuncture alone or combined with other treatment modalities is beneficial to the clinical conditions of RA and can improve function and quality of life, and is worth trying.”
At Life Point, we may combine acupuncture plus Chinese herbs to alleviate pain from arthritis. Treatment can improve your quality of life and allow you to comfortably participate in day to day activities.
TMD (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder)
TMJ (temporomandibular joint) pain affects an estimated 10 million Americans. More than ⅓ of adults will experience symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) during their lifetime. Muscles may overload from trauma or repetitive activities. Typical complaints include tenderness in the face near the jaw, headaches, restricted jaw movement, muscle stiffness and weakness. Some also suffer from pain spreading to the neck and shoulders.
Can Acupuncture Help TMJ Pain?
At Life Point Acupuncture in Newport Beach, we have seen that acupuncture is helpful in relieving pain, inflammation, and tension associated with TMJ pain and TMD. People who come in with acute pain can receive immediate relief in just a couple of treatments. If the condition is more severe, it may take several treatments over the course of a few weeks to see results.
TMD treatments may include Chinese herbs and massage in addition to acupuncture. We will also show you jaw stretching exercises, training in relaxation, and stress management. Correcting the overall flow of energy in the body will help relieve stress and other potential contributing factors to TMD.
Acupuncture can target the root cause of the disorder by balancing the mind and body. This can help reset the neuromuscular tension in the jaw. Relaxing the contracted muscles in the jaw and face as well as decreasing the overall stress level in the body can help relieve the discomfort in the TMJ and improve the quality of life for patients with TMD.
Sports Injuries
Whether you are a weekend warrior or a professional, sports injuries can wreak havoc on your life. Athletes with injuries often rely on acupuncture, sports massage, cupping, and other treatments to kickstart the body’s ability to heal itself and recover more quickly. From baseball players and golfers with rotator cuff or elbow issues to runners with plantar fasciitis, we have seen it all and understand what your body needs to heal and repair.
After you have healed and returned to your sport, acupuncture can also be used as maintenance to keep you strong and prevent repeat injuries.
At Life Point, we have experience working on professional and collegiate athletes, including football and baseball players. Golfers, tennis players, surfers, runners, and many other athletes rely on our services to help them heal quickly and get back to the sports they love.
Life Point Newport Beach | Acupuncture Pain Treatments
Nobody wants to live with pain. Acupuncture is a natural analgesic that interrupts pain signals, reduces inflammation, and relieves aches and spasms. At Life Point Acupuncture, our experienced practitioners stimulate self-healing reactions by provoking local inflammatory defenses to help the healing process. While acupuncture is a big part of what we do, we also apply acupressure techniques, cupping, and moxibustion where needed. Over the course of a few treatments, our patients report reduced pain, improved range of motion, and better health overall.
Is Life Point Acupuncture Near Me?
Life Point Acupuncture is near John Wayne Airport in the city of Newport Beach right off the 73 freeway at Birch St. and off the 405 freeway at MacArthur. For most of our clients in Orange County, the drive to the clinic is between 10 and 20 minutes. Our clinic takes insurance for acupuncture treatments, though we advise calling and submitting your information before scheduling an appointment to ensure we take your insurance.